Home And Away diner owner Irene Roberts to leave soap after more than 30 years

By Casey Cooper-Fiske, PA Entertainment Reporter

Home And Away diner owner Irene Roberts, played by Lynne McGranger, is to leave the Australian soap after more than 30 years.

The Channel 5 show said the 72-year-old actress would film her last scenes as Irene in March, with her final episode airing later this year.

Home And Away’s statement read: “After nearly 33 incredible years, our beloved diner queen, Irene, is waving goodbye to Summer Bay.

“While Lynne wraps up filming at the end of March, fans can still enjoy many more months of Irene’s iconic slang and warm presence before her final episode airs later this year.”

Irene was first introduced in 1991, when she was played by Jacqy Phillips, as a recurring character, but when the role was taken on by McGranger in 1993 she was promoted to the regular cast.

In her original incarnation, the character was seen as a villainous alcoholic, but when she joined the main cast Irene was made mellower.

She is best known for working in and later owning the Summer Bay diner, having previously worked as a shop assistant.

During her time on the show, Irene’s biggest storylines have included her breast cancer diagnosis, discovery of a long-lost son, and surviving a plane crash.

Home And Away has been running since January 1988, and was first broadcast in the UK on ITV in 1989.

It remained on the channel until 2000, when it was picked up by Channel 5, the show was unable to air in Britain for 12 months afterwards due to an ITV exclusivity clause, which meant it eventually appeared on Channel 5 in July 2001.

Along with her role on Home And Away, McGranger was a finalist on the Australian version of Dancing With The Stars in 2014, and has also appeared in The Flying Doctors and Skirts.